Psychology Courses

Students are introduced to the scientific study of human behavior. Special attention is given to the biological, psychological, and social processes underlying human behavior within the framework of modern psychological research.

PSY 201 - Metacognition 3 credits; Offered spring

Metacognition can be considered “thinking about thinking,” involving self-awareness and reflection. Self‑awareness is closely tied to learning, leadership, personal success, and achievement.

Individuals may differ in their social, emotional, and cognitive awareness, thus students will explore personal assessments of such and track both formative and summative growth as we learn more about metacognitive theories and practice. Students will also engage in many metacognitive activities that allow reflection on personal cognition.

This course is for the serious student who wishes to learn more about the science of psychology.

The course has a strong biological emphasis and covers topics such as evolution and behavior, the nervous system and sensory-motor function, genes and behavior, emotion and the nervous system, language, drugs and addiction, psychological disorders, sleep and consciousness.

This course provides experiences in small group interaction with an emphasis on developing skills in group participation, leadership, problem solving, and decision making.

Students develop an understanding of group processes through class exercises and written assignments. Students are challenged to develop critical thinking, self awareness, communication skills, respect for differences among group members.

Topics include the various roles of social work practitioners as group participants and facilitators, different group types, functions, and compositions ranging from grassroots community groups to therapy groups.

This course focuses on developing awareness, sensitivity, and respect for people and groups of diverse cultural backgrounds and developing self awareness of one’s own experiences of culture and difference as well as one’s own biases and stereotypes.

This course is taught from the framework of social work values of justice, respect and appreciation of diversity, dignity and worth of the person, social justice, and the importance of human relationships. Students are introduced to the concept of cultural competence with an emphasis on the need for social services to be culturally relevant and meet the needs of groups served.

Students are introduced to the knowledge and skills required of professionals who practice cultural competence effectively. Students are challenged to develop awareness of the relationship between culture and personal identity, as well as to the ways in which group membership can influence experiences, access to resources and opportunities.

This course will provide a study of how race, class, and gender can influence an individual’s psychological, social, and educational experiences. Students will explore how societal messages about race, class, and gender help to shape an individual’s worldview and what they see as possible for themselves.

Special attention will be given to schools, parents, and media as agents of race, class, and gender socialization. The class also will focus on how educational and life experiences/opportunities are different for various race, class, and gender groups.

Students will be prompted to think about societal and institutional changes that could provide equal opportunities for all human beings regardless of race, class, and gender.

This is a computer-intensive course that instructs students in the use of descriptive and inferential statistics commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences. Topics include measures of central tendency, variability, graphing techniques, probability, hypotheses testing, t-tests.

Students are required to create a portfolio of statistical analyses to demonstrate their competence in the use of a variety of descriptive and inferential techniques using IBM SPSS software. This course is required for psychology sociology and criminology majors who have priority in registering.

This is a computer-intensive course that instructs students in the use of descriptive and inferential statistics commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences. Topics include analysis of variance, regression, correlation, introduction to multivariate techniques and selected non-parametric techniques.

Students are required to create a portfolio of statistical analyses to demonstrate their competence in the use of a variety of descriptive and inferential placed on identifying strategies and programs that can weaken media effects.

This course examines genius, creativity and discovery in the fields of science, art, and music from a psychological perspective. Readings from the empirical research literature, as well as biographical and autobiographical materials will be studied.

This course examines media formats such as books, magazines, movies, video, music, video games, marketing and advertising through the lens of psychological theory and research. Activities and assignments include critiques, debates reaction papers, field and analytic research.

The major theorists who have sought to answer the controversial questions concerning human personality are encountered in a comprehensive manner.

Students are encouraged to develop the ability to critique these theorists through guided exercises in self-analysis. Some theoretical approaches studied include: psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive.

Students examine the impact of society and culture on the individual’s emotions, thought processes, motives, and behavior. Research findings are presented in relationship to major theoretical approaches.

This course offers a developmental approach to the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of psychopathology.

Students study disorders from infancy to adolescence in relation to developmental theory. Factors and controversial issues explored include, but are not limited to, genetic, neurobiological, intellectual, cultural, psychoanalytic, and behavioral correlates.

Students study and interpret major psychological tests in common use today: intelligence, achievement, psychomotor, vocational and personality. Students select one test and perform a critical analysis of its psychometric properties, its strengths and weaknesses, and its uses in contemporary society.

Students examine the development of the human being through conception, birth, infancy, early childhood, elementary school age, and early adolescence. Major theories of human development are explored. Topics for discussion include critical developmental and controversial issues.

Students are introduced to research procedures in the behavioral and social sciences. Topics discussed in the first semester include using reference resources, writing literature reviews, reliability, validity of measurement, writing research proposals, and the validity of research designs.

Heavy emphasis is given to related computer applications and the development of a student-authored research proposal.

Second semester topics include univariate and multivariate statistical analyses as they relate to the preparation and interpretation of quantitative research data and the preparation of research reports for journal presentation.

Heavy emphasis is given to related computer applications, report writing and the completion of a student-authored research study.

PSY/SOW 344 - Crisis Intervention 3 credits; Offered fall and spring

This elective course will provide an introduction and overview of crisis intervention from its historical development to its present utilization.

Emphasis will be on awareness of basic theory and principles of crisis intervention, trauma and the practical application of specific skills and techniques. Discussion will focus on situational and developmental life crises.

This course provides a capstone experience for psychology majors. Using history as a foundation for inquiry and discussion, students study and interpret the significance of historical events in philosophy, science and early experimental psychology to gain perspective on the growth and development of twentieth century psychology.

Students are required to demonstrate their understanding of psychology, as well as their growth and maturity as prospective college graduates, in a final comprehensive oral examination.

This course will introduce students to the field of neuropsychology. Emphasis will be given to an examination of selected brain-behavior relationships and neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Laboratory activities will supplement lecture and discussion.

This course will introduce students to the basic principles of learning within the context of classical and operant theory. Research and clinical applications are used to frame the applied aspects of learning. Laboratory activities will supplement lecture and discussion.

Prerequisite: discipline under departmental faculty supervision. Research projects typically require a review of the literature, a paper developing and defending a hypothesis, and a poster or an oral presentation of the completed research project.

Students should anticipate spending at least one full day per week during the semester at their designated field site for each three-credit experience. In addition, all interns must attend weekly seminars and individual meetings with their Cabrini supervisor.

PSY 497 - Professional Development in Psychology 1 credit; Not repeatable for credit; Offered fall and spring

This course is a Web-based professional development course for students wishing to pursue careers as a psychologist. Activities include career and graduate school exploration, resume writing, self-exploration of strengths and weaknesses, personal statement writing, and interview preparation.

This course offers an independent but directed course of study leading to the completion and presentation of undergraduate research. Students select projects of interest, typically already underway, involving empirical research under supervision of a department faculty liaison.

Projects typically require a comprehensive report written in APA style and suitable for publication and/or presentation at a local or regional conference.